Panasonic has posted a firmware update for the Panasonic Lumix FT5 / TS5 all-weather compact camera. Version 1.3 improves the functionality of the time-lapse feature. You can download the firmware upgrade from the website below.

Website: Panasonic Support

The Hasselblad Stellar is a 20-megapixel compact camera with a 28-100mm (eq.) f/1.8-4.9 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* lens and a 1"-type sensor. Modelled on the Sony RX100, the Hasselblad Stellar retains all the headline specifications and adds a wooden grip. The company has set up a dedicated microsite for the Hasselblad Stellar, but has not officially announced its suggested retail price yet. The camera will go on sale later this month.

Panasonic has posted a firmware update for the Lumix FH10 (a.k.a FS50) and XS1 compact cameras. Version 1.1 improves the playback quality of panoramic images and pictures taken at the 3-megapixel and 5-megapixel settings. You can download the firmware update from the website below.

Website: Panasonic Japan Support

The Polaroid Socialmatic is an Android-powered 14-megapixel compact camera with a built-in ZINK instant printer, 4.3" touchscreen, GPS and Wi-Fi. Other highlights include a 2-megapixel secondary camera, a front-mounted monochromatic LCD with a uniqe "Mood Assistant" feature, Bluetooth and Socialmatic Network connectivity, remote printing capabilities and SDHC memory card support. The Polaroid Socialmatic will hit the shops in the first quarter of 2014 at a price of $299.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ72 has a 60x optical zoom, the highest of any compact camera. Offering a focal length of 20-1200mm, the 60x optical zoom of the FZ72 can be increased to an incredible 102x optical zoom using the 1.7x Tele Conversion Lens DMW-LT55, enough to capture the cratered surface of the moon. The Panasonic FZ72 also has a 16.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor, full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 60i/50i videos, 9fps burst shooting, P/A/S/M modes, and a hotshoe. The Panasonic DMC-FZ72 will be available from August, price to be announced.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-XS3 is an ultra-slim and super-stylish compact camera. Just 14mm thick, the DMC-XS3 has a 14.1-megapixel High Sensitivity MOS sensor, a fast F2.8 24mm wide-angle lens, and offers 920 x 1080 full HD video recording. The Panasonic DMC-XS3 will be available from September in a choice of two colours, price to be announced.

Sony have commissioned professional street photographers Aimee Turner & Lee Strickland to explore three of the UK's most vibrant cities using Sony' RX1 cameras. The expert compact, which boasts a 35mm full frame sensor with 24.3 effective megapixels, was used to capture street style photography in London, Birmingham and Bristol. Speaking about his experience shooting London and Birmingham with the RX1, Lee Strickland said “The RX1 is a great camera to shoot with, especially when shooting street photography from the hip. The main feature that really makes this camera stand out for me is its full size sensor, which gives you ability to shoot raw files with the picture quality of a DSLR.”

Lytro has expanded its US distribution, with in-store availability at 44 Best Buy stores across the country, as well as at B&H's NYC superstore. Lytro is also currently available through international retail partners in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. This, along with today's UK launch, marks Lytro’s second international retail expansion, following the camera’s debut in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and Canada in October 2012. “As we continue to expand internationally, this is an opportunity to work with partners who share our vision for light field technology and support it across new markets. We look forward to seeing the kinds of living pictures our new European customers will create,” said Jason Rosenthal, CEO of Lytro.

JK Imaging, the worldwide licensee of the Kodak brand name for digital cameras, has expanded its Astro Zoom (AZ) range with a number of new 16-megapixel models. The Kodak Pixpro AZ521, AZ362 and AZ251 join the Pixpro AZ361, which was announced in April. The range-topping Kodak AZ521 offers 52x optical zoom (24-1248mm eq.), Full HD video and a 3" rear screen. The Kodak Pixpro AZ362 ($249.99, pictured) boasts a 24-864mm equivalent lens with OIS, Full HD movie recording capability (which is a step up from the AZ361's 720p video) and a 3", 460,000-dot display. Finally, the AA-battery-powered Kodak Astro Zoom AZ251 ($149.99) offers a 24-600mm equivalent superzoom lens with image stabilisation, a 3", 230,000-dot monitor and 720p HD movies.

Website: Kodak Digital Devices

Kenko Tokina has announced the DSC880DW waterproof digital camera, which features a dual-monitor design. Waterproof to a depth of 3m for up to an hour, the 8.17-megapixel DSC880DW has a 2.7-inch display at the rear and a smaller, 1.8-inch monitor on its front plate. Perhaps the most striking feature of the camera is its 1.8mm f/2.8 lens which, given the 1/3.2"-type sensor, works out to about 14mm in 35mm terms. The product page on Kenko Tokina's website does not specifiy whether this is a rectilinear lens or a fisheye optic, but we suspect it's the latter. At the moment, there is no word on international availability and pricing.

Casio has launched two new digital compact cameras dedicated to shooting self-portraits. Like the Exilim TR-100 (a.k.a. TRYX) and EX-TR150, the new Casio EX-TR10 and EX-TR15 employ an adaptable frame, a rotating monitor, 12-megapixel sensor, 21mm equivlent lens, and come complete with a special "make-up mode." They also add a new self-portrait button on the frame, a 920,000-dot screen, and a new function called Skin Brightening Mode, which makes skin look even more beautiful, the company claims. The EX-TR15 additionally features wireless connectivity. Pricing and availability have yet to be communicated.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II expert compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II compact camera, including a side-by-side comparison with the RX100 model, and with the optional electronic viewfinder fitted.

Want to see exactly what the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R expert compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the full-frame Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1R compact camera.

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II is the first ever Sony camera to feature NFC connectivity. Succesor to the popular RX100, the new RX100 II compact camera has a 20.2 megapixel back-illuminated Exmor R 1.0-type CMOS sensor, Multi Interface Shoe and Multi Terminal accessory connections, a tiltable LCD screen, Full HD 24p/25p movie for cinematic video footage, plus built-in wi-fi. The Sony RX100 II will be available from mid-July 2013, priced at around £650 in the UK. The RX100 model will continue for the forseeable future.

New accessories inclue a grip for both the RX100 and RX100 II, the AG-R1, which will cost £10, the VFA-49R1 49mm lens filter adapter, and the LCJ-RXC leather case (£75).

The Sony Cyber-shot RX1R is a new 35mm full-frame compact camera without an optical low-pass filter. To compensate for the OLPF’s removal, the RX1R’s processing functions have been optimised to maintain image sharpness without compromising lens/sensor performance. Designed to deliver the sharpest ever detail, the Cyber-shot RX1R has the same 24.3 effective megapixel sensor and Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* F2 lens as the original RX1 model. Available in mid-July 2013, the RX1R will cost the same as the RX1 at £2,600 in the UK.

Sigma has released firmware updates for the Sigma DP1 Merrill,DP2 Merrill and DP3 Merrill large-sensor digital compact cameras. In addition to fixing bugs, these updates incorporate a number of enhancements and improvements. Click through / scroll down for the complete list.

Leica Netherlands have published 21 full-resolution JPEG samples and three DNG files from the new Leica X Vario large-sensor digital compact camera. Taken by a Leica brand manager called Eric Hendrix in Venice, Italy, these  Leica X Vario "Mini M" samples provide a first glimpse at what the camera is capable of. The JPEG images are hosted on Flickr, while the three raw files can be downloaded from Box.com.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

The Leica X Vario is a new large-sensor compact camera with a 16-megapixel imager and a 28-70mm (eq.) f/3.5-6.4 lens. Billed as "the world's first compact camera to combine a large, APS-C format, CMOS image sensor with a zoom lens," the Leica X Vario is capable of shooting high-resolution stills as well as 1080p Full HD videos. The optical formula of the lens comprises 8 elements in 6 groups, including an aspherical glass element. The suggested retail price of the camera is £2,150. The Leica X Vario is also available as a set with the X Vario camera protector and carrying strap in tan leather, for a kit price of £2,250. As expected based on the teaser campaign that preceded the launch, the Leica X Vario "Mini M" does not have an integrated eye-level finder - but you can buy an optional EVF for £380.

Canon has posted a firmware update for its PowerShot SX280 HS digital compact camera. Version 1.0.2.0 incorporates the following fixes and improvements:

1. Increases the duration of movie shooting by 20% in cases where the optical zoom is used compared to cameras running Firmware Version 1.0.0.0 or Firmware Version 1.0.1.0 through a reduction in the power consumption of the optical zoom.

2. Fixes a phenomenon with cameras running firmware version 1.0.0.0, in which the low-battery-level warning is prematurely displayed while shooting in movie mode.

Website: Canon U.S.A. Support

Futuresource Consulting forecasts that the so-called 'smart camera' market will reach 4.7 million units globally by 2016. "Smart cameras are still a niche market, with few players in this segment," says Arun Gill, Market Analyst with Futuresource Consulting. "However, looking forward, sales of smart cameras are expected to grow; with our forecasts indicating that shipments will reach one million units in 2013, and grow a further 68% CAGR by 2016 to reach 4.7 million units worldwide." The average smart camera's trade price is forecast to be $202 by 2017, versus $87 for fixed-lens cameras without Wi-Fi and $107 with Wi-Fi. (Futuresource defines smart cameras as "a hybrid of Smartphones and Digital cameras, capable of capturing good quality photos in low light conditions and with good optical zooms, combined with the usability, connectivity and apps consumers associate with their Smartphone camera.") You can buy the report, Prospects for the Smart Camera Market, through the website below.